Welcome back to Buy & Sell, and this week’s theme is “There were also great hitting prospects but the timing of their callup makes it so that I won’t write about them”! Looking at you, Dominic Canzone. Just kidding, Roman Anthony is a real one, though arriving already in a platoon does make me wonder if, despite likely being rostered in all 12-teamers, if he really deserves to be more of a 15-teamer play. I’d still rather have Jac Cags or Kurtz. And hey, keep your eye on the 27-year-old Canzone in deep formats, since he did hit one spicy 116 mph meatball out of the park. But aside from the glitz and glam of top prospects, there are several “zombie” players who have returned from the fantasy grave to suddenly be appealing again, and these are the types of players who can win your leagues especially in FAAB formats since they often go under the radar if you catch the signs early enough. On some of these, I’m already late, but maybe still not too late! Speaking of which, on to the list!
BUY
10-team
George Springer (OF, Toronto Blue Jays)
Don’t sleep on him just because he’s no spring chicken. He’s Springer Chicken. He’s attracted far fewer headlines than the bigger breakouts, but he’s having a fantastic year hitting .256 with 10 HR and 7 SB. Now, perhaps that didn’t register as fantastic, since that is quite on pace with his 2023 and 2024 seasons in which he posted .258 with 21 homers with 20 stolen bases, just with a slight power/speed rebalance, right? Well, first of all, he was still considered pretty darn good in 2023 before his 2024 fall from grace. But what’s more important is that while these numbers don’t show it, under the surface, he’s made a massive change, and while he’s surely rostered everywhere, those in trade leagues should take advantage of the ageism of the fantasy community and acquire him before it’s too late.
He’s essentially revamped his whole approach to swing and miss more to focus on hitting the ball harder and hitting in the air, and it’s lead to more barrels… a lot more. His current barrel% sits at 19% more than double the 9% mark he had last year, both his launch angle sweetspot% of 39% and his HardHit% of 49% are the highest of his career. While his K% of 23% is the highest he’s had since 2021, it’s notable that his overall production started to decline when he decided to focus more on contact, which makes you wonder why he didn’t think of switching back sooner. Statcast overall give two thumbs way up, as he’s underperformed his expected metrics with an xBA of .272 and an .xSLG of .560 that are his best marks since 2020 (or 2019 for a full season). Although he’s certainly impressed already by hitting 5 homers, half of his entire home run total, in the past two weeks, much like Addison Barger recently had, I expect a big power outbreak to continue into the summer months as long as he can keep it up and stay on the field. And he might throw off the pitcher so much that he’ll induce a balk balk! SPRINGER CHICKEN!
Corey Seager (SS, Texas Rangers)
Since his return from the IL, he’s gone just .108/.233/.108 with just 4 singles, no homers, no RBI, in 37 AB. Feeling queasy? Then you’re who I’m looking to trade with. See, Statcast says he’s hunky dory with no decline in his elite .297 xBA and .548 xSLG which are both above 90th percentile. If you can get him for even 90 cents on the dollar, you’ll likely be happy later on.
Alejandro Kirk (C, Toronto Blue Jays)
It’s been quite a trek with him, but Captain Kirk is turning into a star. I’m not sure that’s what happens on the show. He’s finally delivering on the average + power combo we dreamed of years ago with regular playing time, hitting .327/.369/.442 with 5 homers. His strikeout rate is a career-low at 10%, and his HardHit% is a ludicrously high 57%. Not saying it would happen, but how funny would it be if he ends the season with a higher OPS than his teammate Vladito? Hey, it could happen.
12-team
Jo Adell (OF, Los Angeles Angels)
Adell has has one thing that has had me not giving up on him all year, and that’s his 97th percentile bat speed. A lot can go wrong and that can still make up for it, even though his sprint speed was conspicuously lower and his expected stats, while better than his actual ones, didn’t look promising. But now they do! I’m not saying he’s going to reach those lofty “should’ve been” numbers with a .271 xBA and .540 xSLG, but comparing his rate stats from last year gives plenty of room for optimism.
While his MaxEV is lower, he has a higher barrel rate of 14% (12% in 2011) and also a higher HardHit% of 48%. And perhaps even more notable, his strikeouts, his forever bugaboo, is down to a quite manageable 24% and trending in the right direction, and it’s sustainable with a 74% Contact% and a solidly average 84% Z-Contact%. Someone who can make consistently loud contact and can also keep his strikeout rate in check is someone who I want on my fantasy rosters, even though I do still wonder if the stolen bases are coming back, which would be needed to boost him from a 12-team AVG play to a 12-team one.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (1B, Cincinnati Reds)
The Strand is now more than just a cool place to buy expensive books in NYC. I’ll admit being on the more skeptical side still even after three-back-to-back homer games. But there’s a cliff on first baseman once you get to the Torkelson/Rice/Manzardo area where I think it’s worth the risk to take a flier on him, since his upside is higher with guaranteed playing time, and if it doesn’t work out, you may still be able to get the original player back or something similar. If he’s making contact and hitting the ball in the air, he doesn’t have to be amazing for a bunch of his hits to fly out of summertime Great American Smallpark.
Jose Caballero (2B/3B/SS/OF, Tampa Bay Rays)
Looking back, it’s kind of funny how we looked at him in 2025 drafts after having 44 SBs and super multi-eligibility with even some power and decided “Yep, an ADP of 300 sounds about right”. Just behind Jacob Young, Patrick Bailey, and Liam Hendriks! Yeeeeesh. Look, he’s not Chandler Simpson, but the Rays said we already have Chandler Simpson at home. His average has been a drag as expected, but he’s nabbed 25, count ’em, 25 bags on the year in just 55 games and 152 AB. And while his peripherals are still terrible, he is walking more than twice as often at 11%, which means more opportunities to steal. Makes a fine single-category play in 12-teamers.
15-team
Gabriel Moreno (C, Arizona Diamondbacks)
He joins Kirk as another young catcher I wish I had been Gabriel more in on. While his numbers are less impressive with a .277 AVG and 5 HR, don’t forget that batting average from the catcher position is still quite rare. He’s also hitting the ball harder with an excellent and career-best 48% HardHit%, and even though he still hits too many grounders, he does have an average launch angle of 11 another incremental improvement (9 degrees in 2024, 4 degrees in 2023). Given his youth and progressive improvement throughout the season, he could soon shed the “no power contact guy” label and don instead “some power contact guy”.
Otto Lopez (2B/SS, Miami Marlins)
Otto, we meet again. In some ways I feel like I’m doing him a disservice writing him up as a 15-team add when I think he can also be viable in some contexts in 12-teamers with his power/speed combo, but that .228 average will leave most gun shy. Still, I believe better days are head as Statcast says he’s had rotten luck with a .280 xBA that is better than last year’s .277 mark, and a .477 xSLG that is much better than his last year’s .394 mark. But how? Well let’s see, he’s increased his barrel% from 5% to 9%, cut his K% down from 17% to 14%, and increased his walk rate from 6% to 10%.
While he’s been a bit less aggressive on the bases, I believe with these changes Otto becomes a more complete player, and Edwards’s move to 2B gives Lopez the playing time security he needed. Honestly, with his more balanced combo of power and speed, I think I prefer Lopez going forward than Edwards, who may be in the real-life rabbit playing time danger zone that has upended so many others like him (Esteury Ruiz, Chandler Simpson, Mallex Smith, you get it). I think Lopez hitting 20 dingers this year could actually happen, and I should probably place a bet at Vegas since I bet those odds would make me rich. Add in all 15-team leagues and try to spec add on him in 12-team OBP.
Ramon Laureano (OF, Baltimore Orioles)
Given all of the crazy call-ups and hot streaks and whatnot, it slipped under the radar for most that Laureano is back, and you may have forgotten he hit .266 with 7 HR and 2 SB in just 121 PA, which is pretty darn good. He’s got everyday run in the outfield with Heston Kjerstad gone, and his combination of 14% barrel% and elite 21% chase% make him a great 15-team sleeper, especially in OBP formats.
Wenceel Perez (OF, Detroit Tigers)
And to think Parker Meadows was the guy Tigers fans were excited about coming back. Wenceel has made a huge splash back onto the scene hitting .324 with 3 homers in 41 PA, and despite the tiny sample, the Tigers have given him full-time PT as a result. And this week, he’s only struck out once. He has quite impressively already hit 5 barrels, which is nearly QUADRUPLE his barrel rate from 2024 (April-esque small sample size fun here). But given that he does also have speed and went .242 with 9 HR and 9 SB in just 425 PA last year and seems to have improved in his age 25 season, I’m down to try to ride this out in 15-teamers and see if any of this barrel rate surge is sustainable (I’m not expecting it to be, but what do I know?)
Deep Leagues
Max Muncy (2B/SS/3B, Athletics)
Although he had a rough debut to the majors earlier in the year, with those stats weighing down his numbers, he’s been much better in his return, hitting .240 with 3 homers and a stolen base this week. Sure, the fact that he struck out 9 times out of those 24 AB with no walks (a 38% K% for those playing at home) is an issue. But he’s also displayed impressive power with an 113 mph MaxEV and 10% Barrel%, and his rolling xwOBA has continued to trend up since his return. While he’s high risk with his un-Max Muncy like walk rate (Max Muncy The Elder (no relation), I could see his perfect world upside as a Josh Jung type (obviously without the Josh Jung health problems) with extra positional versatility. He’s relevant in all AL-only especially with that home park, and could viable in 15-team average formats if you’re streaming power, if not now then soon.
Luis Urias (2B/3B, Athletics)
He’s been cut in some of my deeper formats as he’s been in a massive power funk, hitting just .196 with no homers over the past 3 weeks. And it’s true that while I like him for his ability to hit pulled flyballs, his FB% has decreased every month, and his soft contact% has increased. Yet I still think his high contact rate is a major change that improves his outcomes, and if he can rediscover his flyball mojo he could be in for a homer binge on Athletics homestands. And he’s drawing walks like crazy, making him sneaky 15-team viable in OBP.
Nolan Gorman (2B/3B, St. Louis Cardinals)
I’m pretty annoyed to write him as a buy here after cutting him in my 30-team dynasty, but he does have the opportunity to earn more than a part-time role with decent performance lately, plus Donovan playing more in the outfield. His power isn’t what it once was, but his 28% K% and 12% BB% is better than years past and his 11% barrel rate is still good enough to make the package work in deeper formats.
SELL
10-team
Paul Goldschmidt (1B, New York Yankees)
This may seem like heresy, given his great start, just like it was heresy to say he was actually not that bad last year. He’s still hitting above .300, which is great and all, but it’s been trending down, and let’s face it, we knew in our hearts wasn’t going to last. Yes, it’s impressive that he cut his K% down to a career-best 18%, but the drop-off in quality of contact is troubling, as his 40% HardHit% is also a career-worst. There is statistically one other season where he made this contact quantity/quality trade-off before and it was the partial 2020 season, in which he hit .304 but with 6 HR in 231 PA. And his walk rate was better back then.
Perhaps the biggest issue is that his xwOBA has been trending down bigtime, as his .231 xwOBA over his past 50 PA is the 2nd-biggest drop in the MLB. But even if you believe that’ll bounce back, don’t forget that 1B/DH Ben Rice has been losing playing time, which frankly doesn’t make that much sense his by all the advanced metrics he’s been a superior hitter than Goldschmidt, and given he’s just on a one-year deal, I think fantasy leaguers haven’t considered enough that Rice is one homer binge away from flipping the script and cutting into Goldy’s at-bats, especially when Giancarlo Stanton returns. Trade him to the Yankees fan in your league or a batting average-starved team and you’ll likely be glad you did, especially in OBP formats where he’s actually not even good anymore but his reputation precedes him.
Luis Robert (OF, Chicago White Sox)
It seems I have to shout this for those in the back: “Luis Robert is not going to help your fantasy teams!” Yes I know about the “upside”, and yes, the 21 stolen bases made him just valuable enough that you decided not to cut him, probably. You would’ve been better off with Jose Caballero. Robert has FINALLY had a decent week, hitting .267 with a homer and 6 RBI. Which is why it’s the perfect time to flip him. Robert’s xwOBA has actually been trending down, with a significant drop to a .273 xwOBA in his last 100 PA and a further drop to just a .252 xwOBA in his past 50 PA. If you can’t find a trade partner, cut in 10-team formats unless you play in an unusual points league format that places grossly excessive value on SBs (yes, even more than Roto). And for what it’s worth, he hasn’t stolen any bases in two weeks. Maybe he just likes Blackjack and now he’s just going to stand on 21.
12-team
Victor Scott II (OF, St. Louis Cardinals)
When they say “To the victor the spoils” I didn’t think that meant that my certified fresh Victor would spoil. The warning signs had been there awhile as he was significantly outperforming his expected metrics (beyond the amount I expect for a speedster) thanks to a hot start in April, and I did manage to get out from under him in one league. But now he’s crashing and burning to the tune of .067 with just 2 hits in 30 AB over the past 2 weeks, with no homers and 1 SB. This is a cruel reminder that you can’t steal first base, though I suppose pinch-running is a fair workaround.
His barrel rate, xSLG, and HardHit% are all actually worse than his “disastrous” 2024 debut, and while the strikeout rate is better, it’s only by a smidge. In other words, he is who we thought he was. If you didn’t hold on too long, he still provided value with his stolen base output in deeper formats, but I definitely do not expect that to continue much going forward, and the 18 stolen bases may still be enough to get someone to give you something for him, but I’m fine with an outright drop in 12-team formats and even some 15-teamers depending on what’s on the wire.
Kyle Stowers (OF, Miami Marlins)
April Showers bring May Stowers, and May Stowers bring… June total loss of power? He’s hit just .175 with nary a homer over the past 3 weeks, and we probably should’ve seen this coming. He’ll probably bounce back with another hot streak at some point, but I think you’re better off with a more balanced asset who can provide you more guaranteed consistent production.
15-team
Max Kepler (OF, Philadelphia Phillies)
Yes, he has 7 homers, but he’s been in a complete tailspin, hitting just .094 with a homer in 32 AB over the past 2 weeks. He’s been getting worse under the hood for awhile, with the 5th biggest decline in 100 PA rolling xwOBA, with a measly .257 xwOBA over his past 100 PA. That’s supposed to be higher than a decent batting average. Even on a winning ballclub, given the fact he also doesn’t steal bases, he simply can’t be considered much more than NL-only roster filler unless something changes.
Jonathan India (2B/3B, Kansas City Royals)
I know he homered on Tuesday, but I was still pretty shocked to find that India was still rostered in 47% of leagues (CBS). Because yes, he’s hitting .280 with 2 homers and that’s okay. But also, he has 3 homers on the year and 0 stolen bases which is very not okay. I also think Nick Loftin has been quietly pretty good in his smaller sample and so there could be more playing time conflicts. India, if I find you on my 15-team roster, I’ll Calcuttya.
Deep Leagues
Luisangel Acuna (2B/SS/3B, New York Mets)
He steals bases! He’s young! He’s an Acuna! He doesn’t play against lefties and has hit just .167 with 0 HR and 1 SB in 24 AB over the past 3 weeks. Why is that still rostered in 22% of leagues, and still started in 5%?
David Fry (C/1B/OF, Cleveland Guardians)
I briefly got excited by his return, and then remembered that even though he has triple-eligibility this year, he’s limited to DH for this year which creates a playing time logjam, and he also has mostly just faced lefties. Unless that changes, that’s the overly crispy fry that gets stuck at the bottom of the fry holder that you don’t bother to fish out.
